Cancer treatments: What they are, how they work, and challenges to curing cancer

I. Cancer treatment (examples of many different cures)

A. Direct: Surgery

B. Exploiting the loss of p53 function: treatments promoting DNA damage

C. Treatments promoting M-phase arrest

D. Gene targeted treatments: Gleevec

Study Question:

How do DNA damaging agents exploit cancer cell defects in p53 function to target cancer cells for destruction?
How do you think p53 is involved in the side effects of cancer chemotherapy?
What is the M phase checkpoint and how is it linked to microtubule function?
Why is Gleevec so effective in controlling chronic myeloid leukemia?

Powerpoint below